Jazz has been part of the Center’s repertoire for more than 30 years, and has helped to establish Orange County’s thriving music scene. NEA Jazz Masters Ahmad Jamal, Branford Marsalis and Kenny Barron bring power to the Center’s 2018-2019 Jazz Series line-up. Making their Center debuts are the astonishing young Azerbaijani pianist Shahin Novrasil performing with Jamal, and the Yoko Mabuchi Trio with Marsalis. Vocalist Catherine Russell makes her Center debut and Kurt Elling entertains with a special holiday set.

Single tickets go on sale approximately eight weeks prior to individual engagements. Visit the Center’s website, www.SCFTA.org for more information. For inquiries about group ticket discounts, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is proud to present the World Premiere of ISADORA, a new full-length work created specifically for brilliant Russian ballerina Natalia Osipova, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, former principal dancer with both the Bolshoi and Mikhailovsky ballets and a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre. She has appeared many times at the Center, creating new works choreographed for her and performing classics with visiting companies such as the Bolshoi, Mikhailovsky and ABT. To create this work of dance-theater that will bring the immortal Isadora to life, Osipova selected the award-winning Mariinsky Theatre choreographer, Vladimir Varnava. Veronika Part will perform the featured role of The Ballerina in the cast of 20 international dancers.

Duncan has been called the Mother of Modern Dance. She was beautiful and glamorous, but also one of the most controversial figures in dance history. As dancer, choreographer and teacher, she more than brought dance to a whole new level: she revolutionized the art form. Duncan is one of those extraordinary artists who dedicate their lives to their art. Yet in her journey, she also found herself surrounded by pain and tragedy. ISADORA, a co-production with Ardani Artists, follows this fascinating genius from her early career in the United States, through her loves, passions and, ultimately, her sudden and untimely death.

Back to the Future July 9 The Princess Bride July 16 Moonrise Kingdom July 23 The Mask of Zorro July 30 Star Trek August 6

Segerstrom Center for the Arts kicks off its 2018 Movie Mondays series with five movies jam-packed with action, adventure and romance: Back to the Future on July 9, The Princess Bride on July 16, Moonrise Kingdom on July 23, The Mask of Zorro on July 30 and Star Trek on August 6. This year, Movie Mondays will be held on the new Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. All showings are FREE, with closed captioning provided. Movie Mondays is one of Orange County’s most popular summertime events, with its fun-filled activities, picnic dinners, popular food trucks and five fanfavorite films on consecutive Mondays. For info, visit scfta.org

When I was a child, I remember my parents moving our family into a new house, with pristine, white carpets. Beautiful to look at, but completely impractical when you consider that two young children would soon be tromping about.

As expected, my brother and I managed to ruin a swath of the floor covering in spectacular fashion … and in relatively short order. Enough so that it was replaced with a more manageable shade. Had my parents discovered the benefits of professional carpet cleaning services like those offered by the Laguna Niguel-based Beacon Carpet Cleaning, they certainly would have been better able to keep their flooring, countertops and upholstery from looking like they’d survived the tornado of their kids.

Ken and Linda Rogers, who founded Beacon in 1988, originally intended to simply find something they could do side-by-side. Both having spent their careers in various customer service oriented businesses, and searching for an opportunity to branch out, they decided upon carpet cleaning. In the years since, the couple and their longtime staff “family” have set the standard in residential and commercial carpet cleaning across Orange County.

An IICRC, Wools of New Zealand and Carpet and Rug Institute certified firm, Beacon takes the process of education to the next level, ensuring their team of professionals are trained to an unprecedented degree of sharpness and quality. The Master and Journeyman Certifications, highest available in the carpet cleaning industry, ensure that Ken and Linda’s customers enjoy a necessary service given by a trustworthy crew.

Fast forward (a few) years and I’m now a grown-up with kids of my own. By pure happenstance, our family inherited the gorgeous off-white carpeting that came with the home we purchased a few years ago. Add the happy fact that our abode has been the scene of many an afternoon play date and the addition of a puppy a couple of years ago and you can probably imagine the toll the carpets have taken. But unlike my parents, I have long recognized the importance of calling in the experts - well before the point of no return.

When we initially called Beacon Carpet Cleaning and MarbleLife Stone and Tile Restoration, Ken personally came out to give us an estimate. In utilizing their services, I can confidently share that he, Linda and their crew - many of whom have been with the company for over a decade - are not only highly professional, but are among the nicest people in the business. They did a great job and given that our kids and pup are still young and rambunctious, we’ve since called on Beacon several more times. Most recently, we reached out to Ken and his team in the hopes of bringing our dull, scratched marble floors back to their original shine and luster.

Again, Beacon more than delivered. I’d like to make special mention of longtime Beacon team member Jose, who is clearly a seasoned professional with a particular expertise in tile and stone flooring. In marveling at Jose’s handiwork, we can hardly believe how beautiful our flooring is now - the marble literally looks as though was newly installed.

Maintaining one’s floors, showers, countertops, upholstery, rugs, mattresses, and other areas around the home can be overwhelming: with or without children running amok. Since its inception, Beacon evolved to encompass a complementary business - Marblelife Stone and Tile Restoration with the goal of engaging its clients on as many surfaces as possible. Beacon providing protectants and cleaning services for almost anything you can think of: your Grandmother’s antique Oriental rug to yacht and boat cleaning in the harbors of Orange County.

“Each of these surfaces work together to create a cherished expression of your identity, dreams, and values,” says Ken. “It’s a unique space to celebrate with friends, or just to enjoy time by yourself. We can meet you in that space and help you protect what you invested in, keeping it looking its best for as long as possible.”

Beacon Carpet Cleaning and Marblelife is located at 27665 Forbes Road in Laguna Niguel. To connect with Ken and Linda, call (949) 496-6079 or visit www.beaconcarpetcleaning.com or www.marblelife.com

I have to admit - I’m pretty particular when it comes to deciding where to go for dinner on date night, out for a family meal or simply stepping out to enjoy a glass of fine wine and live entertainment after work. Lucky for me, I live in Dana Point and am only a stone’s throw from a popular eatery that dishes up all this and delicious Italian cuisine to boot: Brio Tuscany Grille.

A recently unveiled updated menu includes familiar favorites (the signature Crab and Lobster bisque and Brio’s famous Pork Chop), wood fired pizza and specialty pasta dishes. A meat-and-potatoes eater? The Flat Iron Bistecca Pesto starts with a USDA Prime Cut oven roasted, garlic and fresh Italian herbs and freshly made pesto sauce. Prefer poultry? Try the Pollo al Mattone “Chicken Under the Brick” which arrives as a boneless half chicken marinated with citrus, rosemary, sliced fresh garlic and a blend of Italian spices, drizzled with olive oil and lemon sauce - cooked under a brick in a wood-fired oven. All produce is locally grown and organic.

The perfect complement is the piping hot oven baked baguette, baked fresh to order (think soft on the inside, perfectly crusty on the outside) and served with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.

I love the wood-fired pizzas here. They don’t make deep-dish-American-football-sweatpants pizza. No. They serve handmade, thin, crispy, flaky crust pizza. I had “Make Your Own Pizza” with prosciutto and arugula, complete with a soft flurry of mozzarella. You know, the kind of pie you sip wine with, reflecting on the old country while a hot steam of freshness rises poetically around you. Or, as others put it: one heck of a tasty pizza.

Brio Tuscany Grille has an incredible selection of fine wines (and a full premium bar), great nightly specials and the kind of attentive-yet-unobtrusive service that makes any meal that much more enjoyable. Visit briotuscanygrill.com for their menu and catering options or call (949) 443-1476 for reservations. You won’t be disappointed!

Legendary performer and composer Yanni will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of “Live At The Acropolis” with a world tour that will launch this spring in the United States. The maestro returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts with the “Yanni 25 – Live At The Acropolis Anniversary Concert Tour."

“Live at the Acropolis,” released in 1994, was Yanni’s first ever live album and concert video. Recorded at the Herodes Atticus Theatre in Athens with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra from London, the concert took a year and a half to complete. The album was mixed and produced by Yanni in his home studio and was made into a TV special that aired in the United States on PBS. “Live at the Acropolis” became an incredible success and is the second best-selling music video of all time. A deluxe package of completely remastered 5.1 sound and high definition video of “Live At The Acropolis” will be released in 2018 to commemorate this anniversary.

Yanni's iconic performances at the Acropolis in Greece, the Taj Mahal in India, the Forbidden City in China, the Royal Albert Hall in England, The Pyramids in Egypt and El Morro in Puerto Rico have crossed countless borders and has resonated with billions of people across the globe.

Tickets for Yanni start at $59 and may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787.

Jazz has been part of the Center’s repertoire for more than 30 years, and has helped to establish Orange County’s thriving music scene. NEA Jazz Masters Ahmad Jamal, Branford Marsalis and Kenny Barron bring power to the Center’s 2018-2019 Jazz Series line-up. Making their Center debuts are the astonishing young Azerbaijani pianist Shahin Novrasil performing with Jamal, and the Yoko Mabuchi Trio with Marsalis. Vocalist Catherine Russell makes her Center debut and Kurt Elling entertains with a special holiday set.

Single tickets go on sale approximately eight weeks prior to individual engagements. Visit the Center’s website, www.SCFTA.org for more information. For inquiries about group ticket discounts, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.

Ina Garten, the American culinary icon, author of 10 New York Times bestselling cookbooks and host of the popular Emmy and James Beard Award-winning Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics show on Food Network, is celebrating her newest cookbook, Cook Like A Pro. She will share stories that bring you behind the scenes of filming her television show (now in its 13th season), writing bestselling cookbooks and enjoying food with friends and family. She will also take questions from the audience.

From America’s favorite home cook: recipes, tips, and why-didn’t-I-think-of-that tricks for cooking your best. In her newest instant-classic cookbook, beloved author Ina Garten shares 85 never-beforepublished recipes that teach home cooks dependably delicious dishes along with the keys to achieving success and confidence in the kitchen. As seen on her latest television series, Cook Like A Pro, each recipe focuses on techniques, tips, insights, make-ahead guidance, and kitchen efficiency that will turn you into a better and more intuitive cook. From Red Wine Braised Short Ribs to Blue Cheese Grits and a simplified Baked Alaska that will wow your friends, this collection represents Ina’s go-to recipes and techniques that every cook wants to know.

Tickets for Ina Garten start at $49.50. They may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556- 2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 20 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755- 0236.

The Pageant of the Masters is arguably one of the most unique productions in the entire world. This uber-creative, one-of-a-kind show combines theater, performance art and art history. Each evening during the summer season, classic and contemporary works of art are faithfully re-created with theatrical illusion and real people posing as living pictures. A live narrator serves as a guide through the story of each recreation accompanied by the music of a professional orchestra.

In the early years of the 20th century, a new generation of impressionists and plein air painters set up their easels outdoors and reveled in the natural beauty to be found as far as the eye could see. In the 2018 Pageant of the Masters, “Under the Sun,” theatrical magic, live music and light-hearted storytelling will honor Laguna’s own and other artistic pioneers from around the world who left their studios in search of new inspiration.

The medical device and pharmaceutical industries have made tremendous advances in male sexual health, finally, there is a breakthrough in female sexual health!

Childbirth and the natural aging process can cause changes which may affect feminine wellness. To address these issues, Dr. Fleming and her team now offer vaginal rejuvenation via a non-surgical, non-invasive in-office procedure with no discomfort and no downtime.

“This is for the young mother of two who is afraid to jump in the bounce house with her children for fear of an embarrassing urine leak,” says Dr. Fleming. “This is for the woman with post-menopausal or chemotherapy-induced vaginal dryness that makes intercourse painful, which leads to avoidance, which strains relationships. This treatment is for comfort, confidence, and quality of life.

Am I a Candidate?

How would you rate your level of sexual desire?

1. Very low 2. Low3. Moderate 4. Very high

Has your relationship with your partner been adversely affected due to childbirth or the natural aging process?

1. Definitely 2. Somewhat3. Minimally 4. Not at all

How would you rate your sexual satisfaction during intercourse?

1. Poor 2. Fair3. Good 4. Excellent

How confident are you about become aroused during sexual activity?

1. No confidence2. Very low confidence3. Moderate confidence4. Very confident

Do you experience discomfort during intercourse due to dryness?

1. Yes, I avoid sex 2. Often3. Sometimes 4. Rarely or never

Do you frequently experience urinary leaking or urgency?

1. Usually 2. Sometimes3. Rarely 4. Never

How would you rate your vaginal tightness?

1. Very loose2. Moderately loose3. Moderately tight4. Very tight

If you scored a “1” or “2” on any of these questions above, please call our office to discuss new treatment options available.

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The mission of each monthly edition is to serve as a resource for our readership - features penned by experts in their respective industries designed to provide education, information and entertainment focused on the interests of mature adults in Orange County.